When Should You See a Physician?

Not all headaches require medical attention. Some result from
missed meals or occasional muscle tension and are easily remedied.
But some types of headache are signals of more serious disorders,
and call for prompt medical care. These include:

Sudden, severe headache

Headache associated with convulsions

Headache accompanied by confusion or loss of consciousness

Headache following a blow on the head

Headache associated with pain in the eye or ear

Persistent headache in a person who was previously headache
free

Recurring headache in children

Headache associated with fever

Headache which interferes with normal life

A headache sufferer usually seeks help from a family
practitioner. If the problem is not relieved by standard
treatments, the patient may then be referred to a
specialist--perhaps an internist or neurologist. Additional
referrals may be made to psychologists.